See, that is how I pretty much feel about it. A legacy is what you choose to make it, I do not think it is something easily defined. Just like we cannot - or at least shouldn't - define beauty, for all living things are beautiful in their own way.

Everyone will have a legacy in their own way.

Wow, you have a brilliant mind on analyzing it, Nianad! Seriously, no torches and pitchforks here.

Okay, so about Part 1, I have to agree that it is something about your life that you left behind. Although say you go on Wiki to some famous person, there almost always will be an "In Popular Culture" or "Legacy". And I feel that society really has a way of digging into our brains, saying that to be loved and cherished after death, we have to do something either stupid or world changing.

It's always been like that.

And why the two extremes for a "society-built" legacy? Well, because both end up being role models to the majority of people. Most celebrities do not so smart things and being that they are building up this little legacy here, many follow. Or if it is a doctor who invented a new cure, they have just established a strong legacy that many people will cheer them on for.

So in short, yes, I agree with Part 1 entirely. Although to society, I feel a legacy is more in the extremes of someone's life. Either making a fool of them when they die or a cherished hero.

Now Part 2.

Okay, I love it when someone brings up a different point of view! Like I said, no torches or pitchforks here. I have a lot of friends who have different religions, or none at all, from LDS, Catholic, Nazarene, Seventh Day, and all these other religions, so I am used to different perspectives. In fact, I love hearing what people think, so no worries!

And again, this is just my perspective, but yes, we can make our own choices. But how I see it is that God foresaw those choices before we even made them. We feel we have freedom to say "I shall eat pizza tonight" yet he already knew prior, whether or not he chose that for you. Maybe you do have the freedom to choose, but I feel God at least knew what you'd choose. Or maybe He picks for you. I couldn't be too certain, I'd have to ask someone more experienced than myself.

So I believe, just personally, that God always knows what we are doing and what we will do before it happens. I also believe he chose our fate for us, how and when we'd die, what we would do to our lives, and so forth. I do feel we can choose, which is why we make mistakes and have to ask for forgiveness. But I still feel God picked it all out for us in the end, carved the road we walked.

Again, that is just my opinion, and I am glad you chose to share yours! I know not everyone believes in God, or shares the same views, and so I fully understand that. Like I said when you have friends with various religions - or even none at all - it really opens your eyes to cherish what everyone has to say.

Well spoken, September! I do feel that is what a legacy is, although I do not know how much I agree with it being the human goal. I feel a most important goal is changing people, and walking the path God wants us to walk.

So no offense whatsoever, but that almost makes us selfish? Yet in a way, humans often are which is something we cannot easily change. I feel a lot of people lash out too much to get a decent legacy, in which they ruin the chances of having a real one. I also feel a lot of people will be someone who they are not just to be remembered.

So maybe you are right, maybe most people crave a legacy. For me, I want to make a change on the world. I don't focus on it too much now, there isn't a ton I can do. Right now I do things I won't be remembered for: being here for you guys, my friends, and my family. No one besides maybe those select few will remember me for that.

But in the future, I want to make a bigger change. A world change. That is why I want to travel, do travel photography, telling the stories of others. That is why I want to join Peace Corps and start an orphanage. That is partly why I want to get rid of this "prestigious' state that I live in, where I feel everyone thinks they are better than the person standing next to them. It's sickening.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I see your statement to be true. People are animals down in their core, sick with a temptation to build a legacy that doesn't even matter, a legacy that often doesn't fit who they are. 

Was that a Panic! reference?

Also, that is truly inspiring. And I have House of Memorys stuck in my head.

Was that a Panic! reference?

Also, that is truly inspiring. And I have House of Memorys stuck in my head.

Oh, good! I love sneaking in bits of references here and there. Plus that line often gets me thinking.

But NOOOO I am not leaving!! I can see how you thought that, but I didn't mean for it to come across that way. I still have a good 2-3 years left for the CB before I have to move on. Thank you for being worried about me, elementgirl! 

I'm sorry if I have offended you, I please do ask you forgive me. I usually avoid bringing up my opinions or religion for this exact reason - I really don't want to upset anyone. Which is why I bring up a warning before any comments/posts discussing religion. That isn't the purpose of this thread, I just used it to tie into what I believed.

So like I told Nianad, we all have our unique beliefs and I cherish that. It is what makes us human, after all. And I do believe we can choose what we want for our lives. We choose to do bad. We choose to do good. What I was saying is I felt this was known prior to us doing it.

We still have a right to choose, of course.

And if Admin wishes I do not post anything religious, then I am cool with that. I mean, I wish to express my feelings and beliefs, but if it offends anyone and Admin disapproves, then I will hold back on that notion.